Rue La La » Boot Seasonhttp://www.ruelala.com/blog
The Style GuideTue, 03 Mar 2015 20:00:23 +0000en-UShourly1Saddle Up: How to Keep Your Riding Boots Looking Newhttp://www.ruelala.com/blog/2013/08/25/keep-riding-boots-new/
http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2013/08/25/keep-riding-boots-new/#commentsSun, 25 Aug 2013 14:00:15 +0000http://www.ruelala.com/blog/?p=53337Ahh, boot season. Just about every year at this time, the riding-boot lust creeps up and we just have to get our hands on a new pair. They’re always so pretty right out of the box. But – let’s be honest – these shoes take a lot of wear and tear. They crunch through leaves, snow, and dirt, after all.

Want to save your beloved boots from total destruction? Just consider these tips (even if you’re not into the whole equestrian thing).

1. Wipe dust and dirt from the surface of your riding boots with a barely damp cloth or sponge after every use. Dust and dirt can leech moisture from the leather, rotting the stitching and causing abrasions and cracking.

2. Make sure you use cleaning and conditioning products that are designed specifically for boots, not household cleaners that may permanently damage the leather. Want to restore their original shine? Use a soft rag to slather boot cream or polish (like Fiebing’s Boot Crème Polish) onto a clean boot, then buff with a boot polishing brush followed by another clean rag until the boot sparkles.

3. Never place wet leather boots near a radiator, fireplace, wood stove, or space heater. Allow them to dry naturally at room temperature – extreme heat (and cold) temps are detrimental to leather.

4. Insert boot and shoe trees into your tall boots to maintain their shape and the life of the zippers. Cedar boot trees and cedar shoe trees help repel moisture and pests, while plastic boot trees are the most economical option. You can also cut pool noodles into shaft-length pieces to keep boots standing upright in storage.